Frank w



(No Model.)

F. W. MIX.

1100K FOR SLIDING GLQSURBS. No. 563,671. Patented July 7,1896.

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- iii UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE,

FRANK W. MIX, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE YALE d5 TOIVNEMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

LOCKFOR SLIDING CLOSURES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,671, dated July 7,1896. Application filed September 12, 1894. Serial No. 522,825. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK W. MIX, a citizen of the United States,residing at Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnectiout, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLocks'for Sliding Closures, of which the following is a specification.

In locking sliding closures, such, for example, as a sliding desk-cover,it is desirable to lock both sides of the sliding part; and toaccomplish this it is customary to have a locking-bolt extend from eachside of the lock case, and adjusted in length to suit the particularobject to which the lock is applied. An objection to this form of lockhas been the necessity for use of a key in looking, whereas in a desk orsimilar closure which is opened and closed frequently it is desirable tohave the locking effected automatically by the simple act of shutting.My present invention accomplishes this end and obviates the objection byemploying, in connection with the laterally normally projected rigidright and left bolts having means whereby they are adapted to beretracted, a pair of right and left spring-keepers past which the rigidthrust-out bolts will snap in the act of closing, and from which saidbolts can afterward only be drawn by means of a key. The bolts when shotdo not come in contact with the sides or checks of the desk. In additionto this, the lock is preferably so constructed that the key cannot bewithdrawn except when the bolts are in normal position for looking, sothat by this means the proper position of the bolts is insured.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are interior elevations ofthose portions of the sliding cover and guides in a desk to which thelock is applied, the former view showing the parts just before thelocking is effected and the latter showing the locked position. Fig. 3is a plan of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 4: and 5 are respectivelya face and a top View of one of the spring-keepers.

1 represents the desk-table, 2 the sides or checks, and 3 the sliding orrolling top, which travels in guides 4: in the sides and has centrallymounted upon it the lock-case 5, which is arranged for the reception ofa key from the outside, as indicated by the escutcheon shown in dottedlines, and from which lookcase extend the lateral normally-projectedrigid bolts 6, slidable in straps 7 at the edges of the rolling top. Thefree ends of the bolts always remain out of contact with the sides orcheeks. Mounted in the sides or checks 2, and in position to engage thebolts 6 when the top is closed, are the spring-keepers 8. These keepers8 are trunnioned in a suitable casing 8, mortised into the sides 2, andare made to project normally outward through the faceplate of theircasing by means of springs 9.

From the construction and arrangement of parts it will be seen that whenthe desk-top is forced downward the rigid thrust-out bolts will forcethe spring-keepers inward in passing, and said keepers will snap outabove the bolts, when, owing to the position of the trunnions of saidkeepers, they will resist upward pressure of the bolts, and the desk-topcannot be raised until the bolts are withdrawn from beneath the keepersby means of akey applied to the look from the outside of the desk.

For the purpose of illustration I have described my invention as appliedto a sliding or rolling top desk; but it will be understood that itsapplication is by no means restricted to this particular use.

I have stated that my invention is preferably used in connection with alock from which the key cannot be withdrawn except when the bolts are inlooking position; but I have not deemed it necessary to show the detailsof such a lock, because such locks are well known, and also because theinvention is not restricted to use in connection with any special formof mechanism for moving the bolts.

I am aware that yielding lock strikes or keepers are not new and thatthey havebeen employed in combination with single-bolt locks, and I amalso aware that locks having a pair of locking-bolts have been used withrigid keepers; but I am not aware that it has ever been proposed toprovide a lock for sliding closures with laterally projecting normallyrigid bolts and a pair of spring-keepers which will allow the bolts topass in one direction only for automatically locking both bolts at thesame time.

with their ends out of contact with the sides 10 when thrown out andadapted to press in the pendent spring-keepers and then look therewith;substantially as described.

FRANK W. MIX.

lVitnesses:

A. H. OooKE, EDWD. R. MIX.

